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A review by laura_cs
A Fiancée's Guide to First Wives and Murder by Dianne Freeman
5.0
I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just as Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, sees her mother and daughter off on a shopping trip to Paris and is settling in for a little bit of quiet time, trouble comes knocking on her door. Literally. Frances is shocked when Inspector Delaney brings a woman who was arrested for throwing rocks at visiting Russian royalty to her home. But Frances is even more shocked when the woman introduces herself as Mrs. George Hazleton.
And, considering Frances is preparing to become Mrs. George Hazleton, you can see how this is an awkward situation.
While George does, in fact, know Irena Tesky--a wealthy illegitimate Romanov daughter who was raised in France--he insists that he never wedded the actress, and hadn't seen her in years. But Irena insists that they are married, but even as she does so, she spins stories that grow more and more increasingly wild and unbelievable. There is another thing that she is insistent on: her life is at risk. She has the threatening letters to prove it! Somewhere...
Already tasked by the Crown Prince with finding out if there is a threat against Irena's life, Frances and George's investigation is barely off the ground before they find Irena in Frances' back garden, strangled. Is the killer also the letter-writer? A jealous fellow actress? Irena's frustrated business partner? Her real husband--who most definitely is not Hazleton? Did the Romanovs simply decide to dispose of her, fed up with her increasingly embarrassing antics? Nevertheless, with blame and scandal being thrown at Frances and George, they must quickly find out who the killer is so that they can finally begin their 'happily ever after'.
The fourth Countess of Harleigh mystery is delightfully entertaining, full of romance, intrigue, confusion, scandal, and drama. So much drama. (What else can happen when there's actors and royalty involved?) I love how well Frances and George work together, and how they make excellent partners--both romantically and in solving crimes. I also love how the characters continue to grow, with Aunt Hetty getting some time to shine this time. Aunt Hetty deserves the crown jewels and more.
I'm already highly anticipating the next title to come from Freeman's pen!
Just as Frances, the widowed Countess of Harleigh, sees her mother and daughter off on a shopping trip to Paris and is settling in for a little bit of quiet time, trouble comes knocking on her door. Literally. Frances is shocked when Inspector Delaney brings a woman who was arrested for throwing rocks at visiting Russian royalty to her home. But Frances is even more shocked when the woman introduces herself as Mrs. George Hazleton.
And, considering Frances is preparing to become Mrs. George Hazleton, you can see how this is an awkward situation.
While George does, in fact, know Irena Tesky--a wealthy illegitimate Romanov daughter who was raised in France--he insists that he never wedded the actress, and hadn't seen her in years. But Irena insists that they are married, but even as she does so, she spins stories that grow more and more increasingly wild and unbelievable. There is another thing that she is insistent on: her life is at risk. She has the threatening letters to prove it! Somewhere...
Already tasked by the Crown Prince with finding out if there is a threat against Irena's life, Frances and George's investigation is barely off the ground before they find Irena in Frances' back garden, strangled. Is the killer also the letter-writer? A jealous fellow actress? Irena's frustrated business partner? Her real husband--who most definitely is not Hazleton? Did the Romanovs simply decide to dispose of her, fed up with her increasingly embarrassing antics? Nevertheless, with blame and scandal being thrown at Frances and George, they must quickly find out who the killer is so that they can finally begin their 'happily ever after'.
The fourth Countess of Harleigh mystery is delightfully entertaining, full of romance, intrigue, confusion, scandal, and drama. So much drama. (What else can happen when there's actors and royalty involved?) I love how well Frances and George work together, and how they make excellent partners--both romantically and in solving crimes. I also love how the characters continue to grow, with Aunt Hetty getting some time to shine this time. Aunt Hetty deserves the crown jewels and more.
I'm already highly anticipating the next title to come from Freeman's pen!